Sampler



.attending disadvantages.

Patented Mar. 31, 1942 stars SAMPLER John Ray Polston and Joseph JohnsonBoyd, Tulsa, Okla, assignors to Stanolind Pipe Line Company, Tulsa,Okla,

Maine a corporation of 5 Claims.

This invention relates to devices for sampling liquids flowing throughpipe lines. More particularly, it relates to devices for automaticallycollecting composite samples of liquids flowing through pipe lines at arate which is roughly proportional to the quantity of fluid passingthrough the pipe line.

Numerous devices are known in the art for sampling liquids flowingthrough pipe lines but in general these are subject to at least twodefects in that they require some outside source of power which isfrequently difl'lcult to supply at the point where the sample is to betaken and in that they are generally operated by some sort of clock-workmechanism so that the individual portions which go to make up thecomposite sample are taken at predetermined time intervals which cannotbe readily adjusted to the rate of flow of fluid through the pipe lineso that the composite sample is not truly representative unless the rateof flow is constant. Devices are known which are free of thedisadvantages mentioned but in these a portion of the fluid in the pipeline is continuously drawn oif into a sample container. This isdisadvantageous in that it necessitates either an inordinately largesample or an extremely small continuous stream which cannot becontrolled accurately. Valve control of a very small stream is almostimpossible due to clogging, corrosion, erosion, etc.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a devicefor sampling fluids flowing through pipe lines which possess the advantages of these prior art devices without their A further object is toprovide a device for collecting a composite sample of a fluid flowingthrough a pipe line at a rate proportioned to the rate of flow of fluidin the pipe line. A still further object is to provide a device forsampling fluids flowing through pipe lines which is operated entirely bythe pressure of the fluid flowing through the pipe line. A still furtherobject is to provide a device for taking a composite sample of a fluidflowing through a pipeline which takes uniform discrete samples at arate proportioned to the rate of flow of fluid through the pipe line andcombines them to form the composite sample. A more general object is toprovide a device of the type mentioned which may be located anywherealong a pipe line without requiring long distance transmission of energyto operate it.- Other objects will appear hereinafter.

These objects are accomplished by a device one embodiment of which isillustrated in the accompanying drawings. In these drawings Figure 1 isa diagrammatic elevation partly in section showing the completearrangement of this preferred embodiment. Figure 2 is a diagrammaticelevation partly in section illustrating in detail the system of valvesand diaphragms employed in the same embodiment shown completely inFigure 1. Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 in Figure 2. It will beunderstood, of course, that the invention is not limited to thepreferred form shown which is included for purposes of illustrationonly.

Referring to the drawings it will be seen that the device is composed ofa supporting base A, two valves B and C jointly operated by a diaphragmcontrol D through a spring trip mechanism E, a check valve F, adiaphragm controlled valve G, a diaphragm controlled two-way valve H anda counter J all mounted on the upper side of base A, an orifice plate K,and a sample container L. The spring trip mechanism E causes reversal ofhigh and low pressures to alternate sides of diaphragm control D, thusproducing a two-way or double-acting travel of diaphragm v control D.

Auxiliary diaphragm controlled valves G and H are used for two purposes:(1) to measure and discharge liquid sample and (2) to release high andlow pressures to alternate sides of diaphragm control D at the end ofeach stroke. Valve G is a single seated one-way flow valve and valve His double seated two-way flow. Valve G handles low pressure only whereasvalve H alternately handles high and low pressure. Small check valve Fis used to admit high pressure to the upper side of diaphragm control Donly during one stage of the operating cycle and to prevent low pressurefrom traveling back the same Way at another stage of the operatingcycle. The orifice plate K is arranged across a pipe line through whichthe fluid to be sampled is flowing. This may, for example, be an oilpipe line. Since fluid is flowing through the pipe, pressure on theup-stream side of the orifice plate will be greater than that on thedown-stream side and the pressure drop across the orifice plate will bea function of the rate of flow of fluid through the pipe line. Thispressure differential together with a pressure diflerential establishedbetween the down-stream side of the orifice plate and the samplecontainer by setting the air relief valve on sample container L abovethe vapor pressure of the sample but below the pressure on thedown-stream side of the orifice plate serve to operate the device. Thusthe device operates on pressure differential only and is not affected bychanges in static pressure, as long as static pressure remains withinthe predetermined normal operating range.

Diaphragm control D is caused to move back and forth and actuate springmechanism E by alternately placing its opposite sides in communicationwith the fluid on the lip-stream side of orifice plate K. The device isalso arranged so that when one side of diaphragm control D is incommunication with the up-stream side of the orifice plate the otherside is always in communication with the down-stream side. As diaphragmcontrol D moves back and forth it alternately opens valve B as it closesvalve C and then reverses the process. When valve B is open fluid entersthrough this valve from the lip-stream side of the orifice plate andfills the space between valve C and the diaphragms controlling valve Gand two-way valve H. At the same time that this space is being filled,up-stream pressure is being exerted on diaphragm control D in such a wayas to move it to a position where it will cause spring mechanism E toclose valve B and open valve C. This places the spaces between valve Cand the diaphragms controlling valve G and two-way valve H incommunication with the sample container L so that the sample isthereupon ejected into the container. The

diaphragms controlling valve G and two-Way valve H are always incommunication on one side with the down-stream side of the orifice plateK, and this pressure being greater than that in the sample container Lcauses these diaphragms to move so as to eject th sample into the samplecontainer. The purpose of valve G and two-way valve H is to control thecommunication between the chambers on either side of diaphragm control Dand the fluid on either side of orifice plate K. They accomplish this incooperation with check valve F and valve B.

Having thus described in general the device which forms the subjectmatter of this invention, a more detailed description of its operationis given in order that it may be better understood. A supporting base Ais provided upon which rests a circular plate l9 having a hollow concaveportion therein, another plate II also having a hollow concave portionbeing arranged above plate Ill in such a way that the hollow concaveportions of these plates are opposed and form a chamber. Between theseplates is a flexible diaphragm l2 forming part of diaphragm control Darranged so that its outer periphery is engaged between rims l3 and IQof plates I9 and H which are in turn secured together and to th base Aby stud bolts !5. On either side of diaphragm it are provided plates l6and I1. These plates are provided as is diaphragm !2 with a hole in thecenter to receive bolt i8, plate 11 i! being provided with threads intowhich this bolt is screwed. Bolt It; has a head portion I9 which islarger than the hole in plates 16 and I1 and diaphragm I 2 and it isinserted into plate It and through diaphragm l2 before it is screwed 4into plate I! so that when it is screwed into plate i1 it holds the twoplates firmly together with the diaphragm between them.

Into a threaded opening in the center of plate l! a rod 20 is screwed.Lip 2i is provided near the lower end and when this is screwed downtightly upon the upwardly extended portion 22 of plate I i a fluid tightjoint is The lower end of rod 2% has a cylindrical opening 23 therein toreceive the upper portion [9 of bolt H3 and 1 a longitudinal openingextends through rod 28 from the lower cylindrical opening 23 to theupper end. A valve body 24 is threaded to receive the upper end of rod29. Valve body 24 has an opening 25 therethrough which is in alignmentwith the longitudinal opening in rod 20. Valve body 24 is also providedwith two chambers 26 and 21. Communicating with each of these chambersis a threaded opening into which are screwed plugs 28 and 29 whichrespectively hold valve seats 39 and 31 in position. These plugs areprovided with concentric longitudinal openings which at their lower endsare tapped to receive the tapped portions respectively of pipeconnecting assemblies 32 and 33. Valve body 24 is also provided withoutwardly extending portion 34 in which a hollow opening extends fromchamber 21 to a tapped portion in the end thereof adapted to receivepipe 35. A port 33 (Figure 3) is also provided in valve body 24 toconnect chamber 2 5 and chamber 21. Finally valve body 24 is providedwith two upwardly extended threaded portions 31 and 38 arranged toreceive the threaded ends of tubes 39 and 46 respectively. Tubes 39 and4B are provided respectively with lips 4| and 42 which are drawn upagainst shoulders 43 and 44, thus providing tight joints. Extendinglongitudinally upward through the centers of each of tubes 39 and 49 areopenings 65 and 46. Th upper ends of tubes 39 and are of smallerdiameter than the lower portions so that shoulders 41 and 48 are formedthereon.

Special casting 49 has a circular base 50 provided with openingstherethrough positioned to receive the upper ends of tubes 39 and 40.The shoulders 41 and 48 on tubes 39 and 40 then support casting 49.Casting 49 has upwardly extending portions 5! and 52 on its oppositesides which in turn are provided at their upper ends with rounded parts53 and 54 which extend in parallel with base 50 and are fitted on theirunder sides 55 and 58 with spring seats. Extending out and up from theupper ends of parts 5| and 53 are arms 5'! and 58. Clamps 59 and 69 fromwhich guide bearing supports BI and 62 extend up diagonally are securedaround the upper ends of arms 51 and 58.

Returning now to bolt l8 it will be noted that the lower end of controlrod 63 is inserted in a hole in the top portion [9 of said bolt [8 andheld therein by a set screw 65. Control rod E3 extends slidably upthrough the opening in rod 29 and the opening 25 in valve body 24.Control rod 63 is grease sealed in the opening in which it slides. It isprovided at its upper end with a disc portion 65 at the top. A cup 66having a hole in the bottom through which the upper end of control rod63 slides fits up around disc portion 65. Extending down throughcircular opening 6! in casting 49 is another rod 58 having an enlargedlower end 69 which slides in opening 61. The enlarged end 69 of rod 68is threaded and cup 66, which is tapped, screws onto it. Cup 66 isformed so that when it is screwed up tight against enlarged end 69 achamber 19 is formed between the end 69 of rod 68 and the bottom of cup66 in which the disc portion 65 of control rod 63 is free to move.

Slidably mounted and grease sealed in openings 45 and 18 are rods 13 andM. The lower ends of these rods 13 and M are conical shaped to fit tightagainst seats 30 and 3| when pressed down upon them and thus out onfluid flow through the respective valves C and B. On the upper ends ofthese rods, disc-like members 15 and 16 are provided on the upper sideof which are spring seats 11 and 18. Springs 19 and 80 are compressedbetween these seats and spring seats 55 and 56, respectively, andoperate to close valves C and B, respectively, when released.

A member 8i extending between parts and 52 of special casting 49 andsupported by them is provided with fulcrums 82 and 83 extendinghorizontally therefrom alongside rods 13 and 14, respectively. Thesefulcrums are placed so that earns 84 and 85 may turn upon them and sothat their vertical center lines extended intersect discs and 16,respectively. Cams 84 and 85 do not turn freely on fulcrums 82 and 83and thus turn only when and only as much as they are pushed. Shoulder 86on rod 68, cams 84 and 85 and fulcrums 82 and 83 are so arranged thatwhen shoulder 86 is at the lowest point to which it moves, cam rollers81 and 88 rest against it on its under side. the vertical center line ofcam roller 89 is in line with the vertical center line of fulcrum 82.

On the other hand, cam roller 90 is not directly above the center offulcrum 83 but instead is over and down farenough so that spring 89 canextend sufiiciently to seat the conical lower end of rod 14 in valveseat 3|. Cams 84 and 85 are also constructed and placed so that whenenlarged portion 39 of rod 68 moves up to the highest point it reaches,cam rollers 81 and 88 rest on top of it and the vertical center line ofcam roller 90 is in line with the vertical center line of fulcrum 83while cam roller 89 is sufficiently far down nd over so that spring 15can extend enough to seat the conical lower end of rod 13' in valve seat39.

Above shoulder 85 fulcrum journal 9| is arranged on rod 68 as shown inthe drawings. Fulcrum journal 9! is held in place on rod 68 by nuts 92and washers 93 which are pulled up tight against spacing sleeve 94,around which the fulcrum journal III is fitted, A sleeve 95 is fittedover rod 63 above upper nut 92 upon which it rests. This sleeve isslidably mounted in guide bearing 96. Both rod 38 and sleeve 95 extendabove guide bearing 95 and that portion of rod 68 which extends beyondsleeve 95 is threaded. An arm 91 is fitted to the upper end of rod 63. Ahole is provided near the end of arm 91 so that it can be passed downover rod 68 and rest on sleeve 95. Nut 98 is then screwed up tightlyagainst it to hold it firmly in place. The other end of arm 91 is rolledaround a pin 99 which also passes through a slot Illfi runninglengthwise of another arm NH. The other end of arm Icl is secured to theshaft I02 of counter J. Counter J is held up by a support I63 which issecured to the upper side of guide bearing support 62. Counter J may beof any desired type so long as it willv record the number of strokes ofrod 88, or, with suitable modification, any desired units of quantity.

On either side fulcrum journal Si is provided with fulcrum points 2I3and 214.. Inner spring seats 2I5 and ZIIS are, respectively, mounted onthe fulcrum points 2I3 and 2M so that they are free to turn in avertical plane. Outer spring seats 2I1 and 2! 8 are, respectively,mounted on fulcrum points 2I9 and 220 and are similarly free to turn.Fulcrum points 2L9 and 223 are provided on inwardly extending portionsof clamps 59 and 69. Between seats M5 and 2H a spring 22I is mounted andbetween seats 2H? and 2 I8 a similar spring 222 is mounted.

The above completes the description of the At this time springmechanism. The following is accordingly concerned with the parts of thedevice through which the fluid being sampled flows. The arrangement ofplates II] and I I with diaphragm I2 is described above, It will be seenthat the diaphragm I2 divides the hollow space between these plates intotwo chambers I94 and I95. A threaded opening I06 is provided throughplate II into chamber Hi5. Into opening I06 a pipe I01 is screwed which,in turn, is connected to a T N18. The other two outlets of T I68 areconnected, respectively, to pipe I99 and elbow H9. Pipe I99 is alsoconnected to union III which is in turn connected to elbows H2 and H3which connect to the outlet of check valve H4. The inlet of check valveH4 is connected by elbow H5, pipe H5. elbow Ill and pipe H8 to T III).It has been pointed out above that one end of pipe 35 is connected to anoutlet from chamber 21 in body 24. The other end of pipe 35 is connectedto another outlet of T II 9, the third outlet of which is connected topipe I20. This also connects to another T I 2! the other two outletsfrom which connect with elbow I22 and pipe I23, respectively. Elbow I22on the other end connects with pipe I24 which in turn connects withunion I25. This union I25 screws onto the threaded upper end I26 ofcircular diaphragm housing head I21. Head I21 has port I28 extendingthrough it, and is shaped so that this port opens into a chamber I29formed by head I21 and diaphragm I38. The diameter of head I 21increases until it flattens out at the bottom into a flange I3I. Betweenflange I 3! and a similar flange I32 on body portion I33 the outerperiphery of diaphragm I36 is placed and the flanges are securedtogether by bolts. The body portion I33 is hollow and circular in shape.The upper portion is of about the same diameter as the lower part ofhead I21. It tapers both inside and outside for part of the way down sothat the lower portion. has a smaller diameter. The bottom part of bodyportion I33 is internally threaded and when th leg I34 of T shaped valvehousing I35 is screwed into it a chamber I36 is formed'between the upperend of leg I34 and diaphragm 13B, A port I31 extends through leg I tothe hollow interior of valve housing I35 The hollow interior of valvehousing I35 is divided into two chambers I 33 and I39 by a wall are.Opening I II of valve housing I35 is in chamber I33 and opening I42 isin chamber I39. A conical shaped opening I63 is provided in wall I 4i]to permit fluid flow between the chambers and is positioned so that thetapered lower end of rod I44 can be seated in it to close it. Rod I44 isslidably mounted in an opening in leg I34. The upper end of rod I44 isof smaller diameter than the lower portion so that a shoulder is formedon Diaphragm plates I45 and I46 and diaphragm I33 are all three providedwith holes in center large enough to slide over the threaded upper endof rod I44 but small enough so that they rest on the shoulder. Nut I41is screwed onto the threaded end of rod M4 and holds the plates with thediaphragm between them down tightly against the shoulder. Pipe IIllawhich has one end screwed into elbow III] has the other end screwed intoopening I42 of valve housing I35. The third opening II of this valvehousing is threaded to receive one end of pipe I 18, the other end ofwhich is screwed into one opening of T I l9. Into the leg of T I49 isscrewed pipe I5fi which has a turn in it at I.5I and the other end ofwhich pipe is screwed into one port of valve I52.

Returning now to pipe I23 which hasbeen mentioned above as having oneend threaded into an opening of T 52!, it will be noted that the otherend of pipe I23 is connected. to one opening of elbow iEE which in turnthreads into elbow I54. Elbow 1! 56 has pipe I53 threaded in its otheropening .and pipe .555 connects to union I56. This union IE6 screws ontothe threaded upper end l5! of circular diaphragm housing head I58. HeadLE3 is the same in construction as head I21 on the housing of diaphragmcontrolled valve G.

Between flange 5.58 on head 53 .and a similar flange ltd on body portionIEI, the outer periphcry of diaphragm IE2 is placed and the flanges aresecured together by bolts. A port iii-3 extends through the tapped upperend of head E58 and opens into the chamber H34- formed by head 458 anddiaphragm 552. The upper end of rod IE5 is threaded. Nut N55 is firstscrewed onto it then diaphragm plate Ifil which has a suitable openingin the center is placed on it. Diaphragm I62 and plate 38 both of whichare also provided with holes in the center, are then put on and nut isthen turned down on top of them. Nut I and i 55) are screwed up tightagainst the plates and thus the diaphragm I62 is firmly secured to rodI55. The threaded upper end of a valve housing IIi'l is screwed into theinternally threaded lower opening of body portion l5 l This forms achamber I'Ii. Extending through housing I13 is a longitudinal openingthe upper part I72 of which is of relatively small diameter and thelower part 273 of which is of larger diameter. Rod I55 which is slidablymounted in openings I12 and H3 is formed with a medium sized upper endwhich is secured to diaphragm I62 as described above. Below this is aportion I'M of rod I55 which is of smaller diameter being of such sizethat when placed in opening I72 sufficient free space is left to permitthe passage of fluid therethrough. The lower portion I75 of rod I65which is mounted in opening I73 is enlarged but is still small enough topermit fluid to pass through opening I'i3 when it is fitted therein.Enlarged portion H5 is provided with guides I18 to hold it in alignmentin the chamber 513 and both its upper end I'll and its lower end I'I8are conical in shape and are adapted to fit, respectively, into valveseats lie and I85 Seat IE9 is driven into the upper end of opening I73.The lower seat i851 is placed against the threaded lower end of valvehousing I'Iil. Seat lei] is held in place by cap ItI which is screwedonto the threaded lower end of housing H8. The cap I8! has an openingI32 therethrough which expands at the lower end into an enlargedinternally threaded portion into which pipe connecting assembly I53 isscrewed.

A longitudinal opening H2 communicates with nipple I84 provided in valvehousing I'IO. Running lengthwise of part I84 from opening I72 to theoutside of the valve housing is an opening I35. This opening is small onits inner end but becomes larger near its outer end which is threaded.Into this threaded portion of part I84, pipe 583 is screwed. The otherend of pipe I83 is screwed into T I 39. Similarly the cavity or openingH3 communicates with nipple IB'I provided in valve housing Ill]. Alengthwise opening I38 is also provided in part I8! running from openingIi'S to the outside of valve housing I'lll. This opening likewise issmall on its inner end but becomes larger on its outer end where threadsrequired to operate on.

are provided into which pipe I89 is screwed.

Screwed onto the other end of this pipe and to each other in sequenceare an elbow I90, a pipe IQI, an elbow I32, an elbow I93, a pipe I94, aunion I95, and a pipe I93. The other end of pipe I86 is screwed into aninternally threaded opening in plate IE]. This opening goes throughplate Iii and opens into chamber IL i becoming smaller as it passesbeyond the threaded part.

Pipe i3"! extends from the lower end of pipe connecting assembly 32 tosample container L and completes a fluid connection between the openingin plug 28 and the sample container L. A gas-tight connection is madebetween pipe I91 and sample container L. Sample container L comprises atank I88 mounted on a truck I99. In addition to the opening throughwhich pipe i9? enters, sample container L is also provided with anadjustable air relief valve .2 30.

Referring particularly to Figure 1 of the drawings, it is seen that anorifice plate Qill having an orifice 2&2 is arranged in pipe line .203wherein it is held in position by orifice flange 20:2. Port in orificeflange 284 is located on the upstream site of orifice plate 22! asindicated by the arrows showing the direction of flow i the pipe line.Pipe 206 communicates with port 205 on one end and through pipeconnecting assembly 33 with the opening in plug 29 at the other endadmits up-stream pressure to the opening in plug 25. Pipe Zlll goes oiifrom the side of pipe 235 and through pipe connecting assembly I33admits upstream pressure to the opening .182 in cap @231. Similarly port2% and pipe 2% connect valve 52 with pipe line 283 on the downstreamside of the orifice plate 20!.

It apparent that means for preventing leakage around movable parts isdesirable. This can be accomplished in any desired way, for example, bythe use of stufling boxes but preferably leakage is prevented by capfitting such parts into their housings and providing grease seals. Thusrods 63, I3, and it are lap fitted into the openings in which theyslideand grease seal cups 2H1, 2| I, and 2l2 are fitted into tappedopenings in tubes 38 and an, and rod 2! respectively, to force greasestick lubricant around the rods to form a grease seal. The grease stickused is a compound which is insoluble in the liquid being sampled.

The drawings are not made to scale because the device can be moreadequately shown as Dresented. It is contemplated that the size oforifice hole 2H2 in orifice plate 2Ill and the area of diaphragm I2 willbe calculated for each installation, the latter depending in part, atleast, on the minimum differential that the sampler will be Other partsof the sampler can be standardized except in so far as they are affectedby variations in the orifice hole 202 and the area of diaphragm I2, butit should be understood that the invention is not intended to be limitedto any particular sizes of parts. Thus the parts may be of any desiredsize even though a particular size may be suitable for mostinstallations so that for commercial purposes it is advantageous tostandardize many of them. It is advantageous, for example, in a device ashown to arrange disc portion 65, cup 65, and lower end 69 of rod 63, sothat about e of free movement is allowed to disc portion 65 inside cup66 or some similar free movement depending on the travel of cam rollers81 and 88. The advantage of this free space becomes apparent from thedescription hereinafter of the operation of the device.

The various parts of the device may be con structed of any desiredmaterials depending upon the fluid to be sampled. Proper materials ofconstruction will, in general, be apparent to the skilled engineer.Where the fluid which is to be sampled is oil it is preferred that thediaphragms I2, I30, and IE2 be formed of an oil resistant flexiblesynthetic material such as neoprene or one of its cross polymers, anolefin polysulfide plastic or a rubber-like polymer or cross polymer ofbutadiene-1,3.

Description of operation A better understanding of the device will behad from a description of its operation in removing samples of liquidfrom a pipe line through which a fluid, for example, oil, is flowingunder pressure. The device is in the position shown more particularly inFigure 2. Air relief valve 206 is set at a pressure of about threeounces per square inch (which is substantially lower than the pressureon the downstream side of orifice plate Zill), and the device is full ofthe fluid to be sampled. The pressure on the down-stream side of orificeplate Zlll will be exerted on the underside of diaphragm I02 throughopening I12, opening 105, and the lin running from the latter opening tothe downstream side of orifice plate 20L Through the same line, chamberI38 and port I31, down-stream pressure will also be exerted on the underside of diaphragm I30. per sides of these diaphragms through the linesleading from the tops of their respective housing to chamber 21, port36, chamber 26, valve seat 30 and the line connecting it to the samplecontainer L are exposed to sample container pressure only and thusdiaphragms I80 and I32 move upward to the upper limit of their travelforcing liquid out of the space connecting them to sample container Land into the latter. This liquid so forced into the sample container isthe sample. The quantity of liquid so forced into sample container L isdetermined by the combined displacements of the two diaphragms and thisin turn is a function of their areas and travel. The latter twodimensions for a given embodiment of the device are fixed and thus eachsample is of exactly the same quantity. As will be seen later, thisdischarge occurs once during each operating cycle so that the devicedischarges equal samples with each complete operating cycle.

It will be noted that diaphragm I32 being secured to rod I65 lifts therod as it rises so that the lower end I18 of the rod lifts out of seat Iand the upper end I11 moves up into seat I19. Pipe 201 communicates withthe upstream side of orifice plate 20I so that fluid under high pressurenow flows through opening I13 and out opening I88 to the under side ofdiaphragm I2. At the same time, diaphragm I30 also lifts rod I 44 out ofseat H13, and through the opening thus made the upper side of diaphragmI2 is placed in fluid communication with the downstream side of orificeplate 20 I, through pipe I01, pipe I I0a, chambers I39 and I38, and theline leading from I38 to the down-stream side and is thus subjected to alower pressure than is the under side of diaphragm I2. As a result ofthis pressure difierence fluid flows into chamber I04 forcing diaphragmI2 to move upward and in turn force liquid out of chamber I05 and backto the pipe line on the down-stream side. As diaphragm I2 moves upwardit pushes rod 63 up which in turn pushes rod 68 up to which fulcrumjournal 9| is The upattached. This continue until fulcrum points M3 andMe in one embodiment of the invention are about A" above the horizontalcenter of fulcrum points 2I0 and 220. At this point springs 22! and 222have created enough upward force to cause rod 68 to jump upward (whichit is'free to do because of the 16 or the like free play in the couplingassembly involving rods 63 and 68 and cup 63) causing the top ofenlarged portion 30 of rod 53 to strike cam rollers 01 and 88 and forcethem upward about%,, for example. This upward movement of cam rollers 81and 88 causes cam roller 90 to move upward about and cam roller 89 tomove downward about 5%". The upward movement of cam roller 90 raisesdisc 16 on top of rod 1 3 against the tension of spring and lifts theconical lower end of rod 14 out of seat 3| and thus admits fluid underupstream pressure into chamber 21 and communicating openings-from pipe200 which leads from the upstream side of orifice plate 20!. At the sametime the downward movement of cam roller 89 permits spring 19 which isunder compression, to force down disc 15 on top of rod 13 and seat theconical lower end of rod 13 in seat 30 thus cutting off communicationbetween sample container L and chamber 26 and communicating passages.

Among the openings communicating with chamber 21which are now filledwith fluid under upstream pressure are chambers I29 and I04 abovediaphragms I30 and IE2. It will be noted that When the device is inoperation the chambers I35 and ill below diaphragms I30 and I82 arealways filled with fluid under downstream pressure. Upstream pressure onthe upper sides ofvthe diaphragms thus forces them down permitting morefluid under high pressure to flow into chambers I29 and IE0 and causingfluid under lower pressure to flow out of chambers I36 and I11. Thedownward movement of diaphragm I30 seats the tapered lowerend of rod I44in seat I03 and thus cuts ofi flow from chamber I05 above diaphragm I2to the downstream side orifice plate 2!. At the same time the downwardmovement of diaphragm I62 seats the conical lower end I18 of rod I 55 inseat I80 and thus cuts olf the flow of high pressure fluid from pipe 201through chamber I13 to'chamber I04 under diaphragm I 2. This samemovement of diaphragm 152 also drops conical end I11 of enlarged portionI15 of rod I35 out of seat I19 and thus puts chamber I04 incommunication with the downstream side of orifice plate 20L In additionto chambers I29 and I34 and other openings, the inlet side of checkvalve H4 is also in communication with chamber 21. The outlet side ofcheck valve I M communicates with chamber I05 above diaphragm I2 andthus fluid under high pressure now flows from chamber 21 through checkvalve Il-l into chamber I05. The under side of diaphragm I2 now beingunder lower pressure the flow of high pressure fluid into chamber I05forces diaphragm I2 down and this in turn forces fluid out of chamberI04 and back to the pipe line on the downstream side of the orificeplate 20I with which it is in communication as described above.

It will be observed that with the device in the position shown in Figure2, at which stage of the operation this description started, the inletside is no flow through check valve H4 and thus it serves to preventfluid under downstream pressure from flowing into sample container L andvarying the quantity of the sample.

Returning now to diaphragm I2 which is being forced down, it is pointedout that this downward movement of diaphragm i2 draws with it rod 63which in turn pulls down cup 66 and rod 68. This train continues to movedownward in this way until fulcrum points 213 and 2M are, for xample,about below the horizontal center of fulcrum points 259 and 228. At thispoint springs 22! and 22?. have created enough downward force to causerod 68 to jump downward (which it is also free to do because of the sameor the like of free play mentioned above) causing the lower side ofshoulder 86 on rod 68 to strike cam rollers 81 and 88 and force themdownward about for example. This downward movement causes cam roller 89to move upward about 7 and cam roller 90 to move down about 35 thusraising the conical lower end of rod E3 out of seat 30 and placingchamber 23 in communication with sample container L and lowering theconical lower end of rod 1'4 into seat 32 and cutting ofi communicationbetween chamber 23 and the high pressure side of orifice plate Thiscompletes one full cycle of the device, it now being restored to theposition at which this description started.

Returning to cam rollers 89 and 90 it is pointed out that they arearranged so that when they are in their uppermost position theirvertical centers are in line with the vertical center lines of iulcrums82 and 33, respectively, so that even when shoulder 83 orenlarged'portion 59 is moved away from cam rollers 8'! and 83 the camsdo not move but continue to hold discs and '16 as the case may beagainst'the tension of the springs 19 and above them until they aremoved again byshoulder 86 or enlarged portion 69 as described ab-ove. Inthis connection it may be noted also that the positions of rods 13 and Mare always opposite, e. g. when one is up the other is down and viceversa.

From the above it can be seen that since the device uses liquid, fromthe upstream side of orifice plate 2&4, continuously to operate itself,it will be readily seen that a steady stream of liquid flows from thepipe line through the sampler and back to the pipe line so that a freshsupply of liquid is always present in the sampler device from which atruly representative sample is drawn. No liquid is allowed to standwithin the draw-off linesand cause a dead sample to be taken or have alag in the sampler system. Thus each time diaphragm l2 moves up or downfresh liquid from the upstream side flows in on one side and forces theliquid on the other side which flowed in from the upstream side on thepreceding movement to return to the downstream side.

The sampler device thus, in efiect, is a by-pass around the orificeplate. The speed at which it operates will, moreover, depend upon thespeed with which the fluid flows through it since the more rapid theflow the faster the chambers on either side of diaphragm I2 will emptyand fill and in so doing operate the spring trip mechanism. In the lightof these facts it becomes apparent that the operating speed of thesampler will also be directly proportional to the rate of flow of fluidthrough the pipe line since the rate of flow. of fluids through a systemof pipes and fittings by-passed around an orifice plate will change indirect proportion to the rate of flow through the orifice because thepressure drop across the orifice plate is itself directly proportionalto the rate of flow. Moreover, the number of samples taken will,therefore, also be proportional to the rate of flow in the pipe line,there being one taken for each complete operating cycle of the device.The stroke counter which records the number of complete operating cyclesof the spring trip mechanism provides a means for determining with anerror of less than two percent the quantity of fluid flowing through thepipe. The number of samples times a constant multiplier will give thequantity.

The above has to do with the relative speeds of the device and of thefluid flowing through the line. The actual speed of the device may alsobe ofany desired rate without destroying these proportionalrelationships. It can be ad justed by means for restricting the rate offlow through the sampler such as valve I52 in the line from the samplerto the downstream side of the orifice plate. This can be set to give anydesired rate of operation. Once this valve is set the sampler willoperate as described above, however, in proportion to the rate of flow.

Advantages of the new sampler will be apparent from the abovedescription. In particular, may be mentioned the practical feature thatit takes discrete samples of liquid of uniform siz from a pipe line, thenumber ofwhich samples over any given period of time is directlyproportional to the quantity of liquid passing through the pipe line inthe same period of time, which is exactly what a sampler should do. Itis especially applicable to the sampling of oil but is also suitedioruse in sampling fluids generally. Another feature which makes itparticularly attractive for sanipling oil pipe lines is'that it does notrequire any outside source of power but instead operates entirely fromthe power obtained from the fluid flowing through the line through themedium-of the orifice plate in the pipe line. From a practical angle thedevice has merit in that it is simple and easy to construct and can bevaried readily to meet diiierent conditions. For-use within reasonablelimits many parts can be standardi ed and variations within these limitscan be compensated for by varying the size of diaphragm i2 and the sizeof the orifice and by adjusting the valve in the retuin line to thedownstream side of the orifice plate. The first two are adjusted to theconditions of' fiowand the valve serves to control the rate at whichsamples are taken. Although the orifice plate must be installed-directlyin the pipe line, the remainder ofthe device can be installedat anyreasonable distance from the pipe line since a continuous flow of freshliquid frorn the pipe line through the samplerand back to thepipe lineis. passing at all times. While all movingparts of the device areaccessible and can be changed or repaired without interfering with flowthrough the pipe line, few such changes or'repa-irs will be requiredsince the device operates at reason ably slow speed and consequentlymaintenance and repair costs are small.

It is apparentthat many widely dilierent embodiments of this inventionmay be made without departing from the spiritand scope thereof andtherefore, itis not intended to be limited except as indicated in theappended claims.

We claim:

1. A deviceor removing'a composite sample of a fluid-passing through apipe line, which comprises means in said pipe line for producing apressure differential, a fluid connection outside said pipe line betweenthe regions of different pressure in the pipe line, a gas tight samplecontainer for collecting the composite sample in communication with saidfluid connection and maintained under a pressure high enough to preventescape of the sample and lower than that in the low pressure region inthe pipe line whereby a second pressure differential is produced, meansin said fluid connection for trapping discrete uniform samples, meansfor discharging said samples into said sample container and meansresponsive to the aforesaid pressure differentials for bringing saidsample trapping means and said sample discharging means into operationalternately and at such a rate that the discrete uniform samples aredischarged at a rate roughly proportional to the rate of flow of fluidthrough said pipe line.

2. A device for removing a composite sample of a fluid passing through apipe line, which comprises an orifice plate in said pipe line forproducing a pressure differential, a fluid connection outside said pipeline between the regions of different pressure in the pipe line, a gastight sample container for collecting the composite sample incommunication with said fluid connection and maintained under a pressurehigh enough to prevent escape of the sample and lower than that in thelow pressure region in the pipe line whereby a second pressuredifferential is produced, means in said fluid connection for trappingdiscrete uniform samples, means for discharging said samples into saidsample container and means responsive to the aforesaid pressuredifferentials through diaphragms controlling valves in said fluidconnection for bringing said sample trapping means and said sampledischarging means into operation alternately and at such a rate that thediscrete uniform samples are discharged at a rate roughly proportionalto the rate of flow of fluid through said pipe line.

3. A device for sampling a fluid passing through a pipe line whichcomprises an orifice plate in said pipe line producing a pressuredifferential, a fluid connection outside said pipe line between theregions of different pressure in the pipe line, a gas tight samplecontainer for collecting the composite sample in communication through afirst valve with a sample trapping space forming a part of said fluidconnection, said sample container being maintained under a pressure highenough to prevent escape of the sample and lower than that in the lowpressure region in the pipe line whereby a second pressure differentialis produced, said fluid connection between the high pressure and lowpressure sides of said orifice plate having a system of valves,including a second valve which controls the inlet to said sampletrapping space, means including a spring trip mechanism having twopositions and responsive to the pressure differential in the pipe linefor controlling said first and second valves and arranged so that inmoving from one position to another it alternately opens one of said twovalves as it closes the other and in moving back reverses thisoperation, means responsive to said second pressure differential whensaid first valve is open for discharging a trapped sample into saidsample container, a check valve communicating on its inlet side withsaid sample trapping space and on its outlet side with the downstreamside of said orifice-plate, and means responsive to the saidpressureiiiiferentials for alternating the effect of the pressuredifferential in the pipe line on said means responsive to the pressuredifferential in the pipe line and controlling the spring trip mechanism.

4. A device as described in claim 3 further characterized in that itincludes three separate means responsive to the pressure diflerentialseach of which has two positions the first of which means controls saidspring trip mechanism and responds to the pressure differential in thepipe line, the second of which controls two valves, one of which isalways closing as the other is opening and the third of which controlsone valve, said second and third means being responsive in one positionto said fisrt pressure differential and in the other to said secondpressure differential.

5. A device for removing a composite sample of a fluid passing through apipe line, which comprises means in said pipe line for producing apressure differential in response to fluid flow, a fluid connectionoutside said pipe line between regions of differential pressure in thepipe line, means in said fluid connection responsive to said pressuredifferential for trapping discrete uniform samples, a gas-tightcontainer for collecting the samples, and means for ejecting saidsamples into said container whereby discrete uniform samples aredischarged from said fluid connection at a rate roughly proportional tothe rate of flow of fluid through said pipe line.

JOHN RAY POLSTON. JOSEPH JOHNSON BOYD.

